E* cust may switch to D* but i have some ?s

[jaschier]

I am a current E* sub, and employee but will be resigning soon, which means I'll lose my $31.99 monthly "free programming credit", so I'll probably switch to D*. I have some questions though before switching.

I qualify for Roanoke VA locals, I believe I need a 'triple lnb' dish? Something similar to E* superdish? Does that mean my locals will come from an FSS be less powereful of a signal? I know Dish's superdish customers experience more sig loss probs than dish500 customers, because of the type of dish/sig/lnbs.

I would need 3-4 rooms, but don't want to pay an extra 5-10 bucks/month for additional outlet fees. Right now I have a 522 with s-video to my main tv, and coax split my other tv's because we are rarely ever in more than one room at a time, and just have a uhf remote for each room. Does Directv have a dvr, tivo brand or not, than is uhf so I can buy multiple uhf remotes for multiple rooms?

I know the product line for dish, and I love my 522. I am looking for a similar model rec for D*, where I can have s-video and audio to my main tv and split coax's to other rooms. Also, b/c the 522 has 2 tuners, I can record 2 things and watch either one, record one thing and watch anything else (i keep it in single user mode). Also, its uhf compatible. Can someone suggest which equipment I would want or ask for?

Can anyone tell me what features are different for D*? I know with E* I can change my guide to all subs, all chann, favorites list, i have caller id, etc. what features are different for D*?

What type of warranty is there? with dish if its direct, 90 install warr and if you purchase, 1 year equip and after 90 days of install, cust has to pay for s/h. after 90 day install, service call is $99 or $29 w/ dhpp warranty, which you can add/remove anytime you want. for retail install it depends on retailer. how is any of that different?

I may/may not want to sign up for sunday ticket, depends on whether i will have to work sundays. When is the best time to sign up? I will possibly be signing up late July, but if new promos or i should wait for better promos I can wait till Aug/Sept. What kind of promos are out there now or should I wait? I'll probably get the total choice plus and add the sports pack. (do I have to do that just to get 1 rsn? right now with dish top120 or higher i get csn-ma). Maybe starz/hbo.

Thanks for all the input for anyone who responds, I have been extremely disappointed with E* and Charlie's attitude towards sports, the monthly credits were the only thing keeping me with them. Anyone in the Roanoke DMA please let me know how often you lose sig. I barely lose sig ever, only in the heaviest of rainstorms, maybe 6 times in the 13 months being a subscriber.

**I don't have the money or capabilities for hd anytime soon, so that won't be an issue here**

[pomeroy]

Hey VA local here :)
The only question I can help answer is about the Roanoke VA locals from Directv. You should not need a triple lnb dish to get them, I got them for a few weeks as a free preview when they first got added. I only have a 18" Dish. The picture quality on 10 & 7 are good 27 is ok but the rest are awful quality especialy on the wb, I dropped them because of that. To be honest you would get a better picture with rabbit ears. they might have made some improvements with the quality sence then so give a try. its like $5 for them.

by the way Directv charges $5 for every extra receiver you have in your home, not sure about the price for a tivo, if your signal never went out that much with Dish you should be fine with Directv it has to rain real hard for it to go out to.

[KingLoop]

I am a current E* sub, and employee but will be resigning soon, which means I'll lose my $31.99 monthly "free programming credit", so I'll probably switch to D*. I have some questions though before switching.

I would need 3-4 rooms, but don't want to pay an extra 5-10 bucks/month for additional outlet fees. Right now I have a 522 with s-video to my main tv, and coax split my other tv's because we are rarely ever in more than one room at a time, and just have a uhf remote for each room. Does Directv have a dvr, tivo brand or not, than is uhf so I can buy multiple uhf remotes for multiple rooms?

I know the product line for dish, and I love my 522. I am looking for a similar model rec for D*, where I can have s-video and audio to my main tv and split coax's to other rooms. Also, b/c the 522 has 2 tuners, I can record 2 things and watch either one, record one thing and watch anything else (i keep it in single user mode). Also, its uhf compatible. Can someone suggest which equipment I would want or ask for?


Unless you really hate Dish Network you don't have a lot to gain by switching to DirecTv. Total Choice would cost you $47/mth, with a TiVo. AT120 is $48/mth With a 522.

DirecTv does not have UHF remotes. You could buy signal extenders for each TV at about $35 a pop.

I think that before you decide to switch you should go to a retailer's showroom and check out the TiVo and the guide setup to see if you would like it. It is differant. I don't like it personally but some do. It's just differant. They currently have a $50 rebate with the purchase of a TiVo, but word is that will move up to $100.

It will cost you to switch either way. Let us know how it works out.

[pez2002]

well now

do they even have live directv systems in stores anymore ???

[Newshawk]

I've seen a live D* display in two WalMarts here in Broken Arrow. Oh, and the H10 HD receiver has built-in RF capabilities...

[wittlesvaseel]

I would need 3-4 rooms, but don't want to pay an extra 5-10 bucks/month for additional outlet fees. Right now I have a 522 with s-video to my main tv, and coax split my other tv's because we are rarely ever in more than one room at a time, and just have a uhf remote for each room. Does Directv have a dvr, tivo brand or not, than is uhf so I can buy multiple uhf remotes for multiple rooms?

I may/may not want to sign up for sunday ticket, depends on whether i will have to work sundays. When is the best time to sign up? I will possibly be signing up late July, but if new promos or i should wait for better promos I can wait till Aug/Sept. What kind of promos are out there now or should I wait? I'll probably get the total choice plus and add the sports pack. (do I have to do that just to get
1 rsn? right now with dish top120 or higher i get csn-ma). Maybe starz/hbo.

What type of warranty is there? with dish if its direct, 90 install warr and if you purchase, 1 year equip and after 90 days of install, cust has to pay for s/h. after 90 day install, service call is $99 or $29 w/ dhpp warranty, which you can add/remove anytime you want. for retail install it depends on retailer. how is any of that different?

1.The additional receiver fee is non-waivable. You're stuck with 4.99 a month per add.

2.Dtv's tivo model is the R10

3. 90 day warranty on equipment, if you want, there is a protection plan, $5.99 a month for regular receivers, $7.99 a month for advanced receivers (dvr/hd/hd-dvr). Service calls start at $70 and can go up depending on how messy the situation is. You can get a $30 service call if you agree to sign up for the protecton plan, but that comes with a 1 year agreement, although you can cancel it within the first 30 days, after that you can still cancel but their is a $10 early cancellation fee.

4. Best time to get NFL Sunday Ticket is now while the $54.75 early bird offer is around, after (I forget the end time for that promo although no later than Sept. 10) that it goes up to $59.75

5. Current Promos: First 3 months Total Choice Premier for $45.99 (premium channels free) First 3 months Total Choice Plus (same channels as in Premier except no premiums) $29.99.

6. If you don't opt for the Sports Package, the RSN's you get are based on your zip code. With the Sports Pack, you get all of them, 30+.

7. If you want to wait to subscribe hoping there will be a better offer, you might as well pack up your tv and get reaquanted with the library. There will always be nicer offers for new customers than there are for existing customers.

[boba]

Go with 1 Directv DVR after August 1st it will be free after rebate. Do the same as you are doing with your 522, "S" video to main TV and RF output to the other three TVs no additional outlet fees. You had to buy the additional remotes for the 522 so buying signal senders for the TiVo is no different. The TiVo runs circles around the 522 for reliability but does have a different/slower guide.
I strongly suggest Para Todos Opcion Extra Especial at $39.99/Mo. basically AT-180 without the TMC west and Encore channels.
Hopefull this will answer some of your questions.